Hamas Agrees to Release 5 Hostages for 50-Day Truce, Israeli Official Says

Hamas has reportedly agreed to an Egyptian-brokered proposal to release five living hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire, an Israeli official told Walla News on Saturday. The truce is expected to begin over Eid al-Fitr, which starts on Sunday or Monday.

In addition to the live hostages, Hamas will also return the bodies of slain captives during the ceasefire, though the exact number has not been disclosed.

Despite this development, the official noted that Israel is expected to present a counteroffer, making it unlikely that an agreement will be finalized before the start of the Muslim holiday.

The announcement follows reports from Egyptian officials earlier in the day, confirming that Hamas had accepted the proposed terms. However, negotiations remain ongoing, and the final details of a potential ceasefire deal are still being worked out.